Last week I challenged readers to put God's gift of sexual intimacy in its proper place, the marriage bed of committed, and loving couples. Our culture has exploited human sexuality for its own selfish gains and in the meantime contributed to the continuing demoralization of our society.
Sex has been used to sell everything from shampoo to cadillacs and each year advertisers push us closer and closer to the edge of total moral depravity. There appears to be nothing off limits. An example is the Poise feminine products commercial above. It is not only distasteful but degrading in the way that it takes a perfectly normal function of the female body and with provocative innuendos turns it into a sexual conversation between two women.
As Christians we find ourselves in somewhat of a dilemma, in that we are in the world, but not of it (John 17:6). How you may ask can we stay holy in such an unholy environment? How do we protect our children from sexual predators (male and female) who masquerade as teachers, mentors, and ministry workers?
I was a bit surprised when 34 year old Mary Kay Latourneau was convicted of having sex with her 12 year old student back in 1997. She went to jail twice had a baby by him and they later married. But since then there have been at least a dozen similar cases. All females preying sexually on teen boys!
I was less surprised with the popularity of the book, Fifty Shades of Gray. A novel that graphically describes sexual scenes that include perverse activities such as the use of whips and other forms of sexual domination. I guess a movie is in the making now and the only protests I've heard so far are from women who are disappointed that full frontal nudity of men will not be included! What do you want to bet that it will be a movie blockbuster!!
Ladies, our sexual integrity is at stake! Just as sexual language influences our character; sexual environments can shape our behavior! THAT IS, IF YOU ALLOW NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTS TO DOMINATE YOUR THINKING!
Romans 12:2 admonishes Christians not to be conformed (shaped) by this world but have our minds transformed and renewed. This action precedes what I believe is our safety net against prevailing sexual language and dangerous sexual behavior. God's word it says will prove without a shadow of doubt, what is His will! And what is that will? Read the following:
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality" (I Thessalonians 4:3)
Yes, it's that easy. Abstain means to hold ones self away from. To maintain your sexual character. Keeping it real... it means that you do an ongoing sexual self-check!
SOME SEXUAL ENVIRONMENTS:
--MOVIES - Married or unmarried, stay away from sexually explicit movies (ex: Magic Mike), music videos, etc. They excite the emotions and make you vulnerable to sexual sin!
For some women, sex is just like a drug! This is especially so, if you have been sexually active in the past. Loneliness creeps in and you long for social intimacy, which can be quite harmless...but some how if not careful can turn into sexual intimacy! Find other ways to fulfill these needs for companionship. Keep yourself busy, don't isolate yourself, participate in group activities, physically exercise routinely to help expend some of that energy.
--EROTICA
Be careful of sexual fantasies! Pornography for females is called erotica. Although God has given all of us imagination, the Enemy will often oppress us with dreams and thoughts of a sexual nature. Many of the popular shows we watch are nothing more than soft porn. They fall short of showing the complete sex act! Bring every thought captive to the will of God.
--OLD ASSOCIATIONS. Those you hung out with before you were saved should not be your companions today. (I Corinthians 5:9-11). You're sanctified now, (separated) from old habits. You may think you're strong enough to handle the club scene, and party atmosphere but why take the chance. The flesh has a long memory!
--ONLINE CHAT ROOMS OR DATING SITES
I can't tell you how dangerous it is to make connection with virtual strangers. All types of people have computers and they're looking for women who have no life! Weak willed and lonely. They will lure you with what you want to hear and then trap you in order to use you.
Fill your time and your mind with God's Word! It will help you keep your priorities straight (Matthew 6:33). Ask God for the filling of the Holy Spirit daily. He has the power to give you supernatural self-control and enables your ability to be content without fulfilling sexual urges.
REMEMBER: Before we can encourage our young people to stand against the pervasiveness of unbiblical sex, we've got to model it ourselves. We cannot do so if we talk one game and live another!
Until Next Time!
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